Hand plane having adjustable mouth



Oct. 9, 1951 w, PQwELL 2,570,980

HAND PLANE HAVING ADJUSTABLE MOUTH Filed June 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet lOct. 9, 1951 w. N. POWELL 2,570,980

HAND PLANE HAVING ADJUSTABLE MOUTH Filed June 28, 1949 ZSheets-Sheet 2 rTONE i 'atenteci Oct. 5

UNITED STAT EJS PATENT 0 FF 1 CE 2,370,980 .HANn PLANE HAVING ADJUSTABLEMoore Walter-Noel Powell, St. Helene, England, assignon of one-'tlr'ir dto Allan Frederick Powell and onerth irdio l-lei'rrly Antler-ton,- bo'thof St; Helens;

England Application June :28, 1949, Serial N0. 101,740 In GrcatBritain Jline 30, 1948 10 Claims. 1

The present invention concerns improvements in planes for use inshapingwood and the like.

Accordin to the present invention hand plane for shaping wood and thelike has fiatbottomed relatively adjustable front and rear body membersthe "flat bottomed faces of-which join at 'theLb'lade.

According to a further feature of theinve'ntion a hand plane for shapingwood and the like has flatbottom'ed front and rear body memberswhich arerelatively adjustable in an upward and downward direction and "the flatbottomed faces of Whichjoin at .theblade.

Preferably the fiat bottomed faces are maintained parallel orsubstantially parallel with one another at all positions of adjustment,the front body member being movable in an upward and downward directionrelative to the rear body member to form a step between the flat-bottomsthereof to suit the desired depth of cut.

Preferably the position of "the *cdttingblade is adjustable relatively.to said rear body member.

The cutting edge of the cutting blade is normally adjusted to besubstantially level with the flat work contacting surface of the rearbody member and thus the depth of out made by the plane is substantiallythe perpendicular distance between the twoplanes containing the fiatwork contacting surfaces of the front and rear body membersrespectively. The depth of out can be regulated by altering the distancebetween these twoplanes.

in a preferred embodiment the front body member is provided with twoinwardly projecting slides disposed at right angles to the .flat workcontacting surfaces. Two grooves are provided on the rear body portionnormal to the fiat work contacting surface thereof and these grooves areadapted to receive the slides of the front body member. rotatablymounted upon the rear body member cooperate with two holes or slotsdisposed in the slides of the front body member. Rotation of this shaftby means of a lever attached thereto enables the position of said frontbody member to be adjusted relatively to the rear body memher.

The rear body member may comprise a substantially flat base portion uponwhich is mounteda wedge-shaped element at its front-end. The sides ofthe grooves in which .the slides of the front body memberare containedcan be .formed, the one on the base portion and the other .on the wedgeelement.

Th invention will be described further, .by

Two eccentrics mounted upon a shaft way of example, with reference tothe accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a plane embodying thepresent invention,

-Fig. .2 is a plan view with certain parts omitted for the sakeofclarity,

Fig. '3 is an underside plan view of the plane shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a section along the line IVIV of Fig. 2, and

Fig. "5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the plane to alarger scale.

The plane comprises a front body member 12 having a substantially flatbottom face 13 arear body member formed of a lower fiat jbody member ii)having a substantially flat bottom face H, and an upper wedge-shapedrear body member it. The lower rear body member carries a rear handle itand the front body member carries a front handle it in known manner. Thewedges'hap'ed member Hi is secured to the front end of the lower rearbody member in by means of screws I? which pass through slotted holes itin the wedge-shaped member and are inserted in the holes [9 in the lowerrear body member iii. The front face 28 of the lower rear body memberS15! is inclined at substantially ,th'esarne angle .as the upper face.2! of the wedge element as. Upstanding' shoulders 22 on the lower rearbody member co-operate with corresponding cut away portions 23 off thewedge-shaped meni-ber ill so as to prevent rotation .of the latterrelative thereto.

The wedge-shaped member M is adapted to receive .a blade 24 and retainer25 in .9, .known manner. Lever 26 is pivotally mounted in thewedge-shaped member by means of shaft .21 which carries at its other endan eccentric Y2 whichco-operates with .a slot in the blade 2d for thepurpose of straightening it. The blade can be'fed (in or out) along thefront surface 2-! of the wedge-shaped member i l by ,ineansjo f pin2-9Ieccent'rically,mounted on the inner end of a knurled knob 3i) whichis pivotally mounted in the wedge-shaped member. The pin .25; is IR,"

oeiv eol in a transverse slot (not shown) in -the .Theslides as eoperate with a groove SA-formed .bythe rear ,bojdy member partly aloneand partly in conjunction with the wedge-shaped member M. The front endsof the sides of the rear body member have vertical faces 35substantially at right angles to the bottom face and constitute the rearsurface of the groove 34. The sides of the wedge-shaped member 14 are,at each side, cut away at 36 to form a stepped portion and provide theupper portion of the front and inner faces of the grooves 34. A rod 31which is pivotally mounted in slots 38 in the wedge-shaped member l4carries at the outer ends eccentrically mounted pins 39 which co-operatewith grooves 49 provided in the inwardly projecting slides 33 on thefront body member. Rotation of the rod 31 is effected by movement of therod 4! which carries at its outer end a knurled knob 42.. The inner endof rod 41 is threaded and passes through an internally threaded hole 43in the centre of the rod 3?. Rotation of the rod 31 brings aboutmovement of the front body member relative to the rear body member in adirection substantially at right angles in the work contacting surfacesand the rod 3! may be locked in position by rotation of the rod 4| bymeans of the knob 42, whereby the inner end of rod 4! is brought intofriction-tight contact with the inner surface of the slot 38.

Thus each setting of the rod 4! corresponds to a particular value of theperpendicular distance between the plane of the bottom face of the frontbody member and the plane of the bottom face of the rear body member. Innormal operation the plane iron is fed into the position where its lowerfront cutting edge is at the same level as the front edge of the bottomface of the rear body member and thus the depth of the out which is madeby a stroke with the plane is more or less equal to the perpendiculardistance between the bottom faces. A scale 44 adjacent the rod 41 servesto indicate the approximate depth of the out.

It will be seen that the groove containing the slides 33 on the frontbody member is formed jointly in its upper region by the cut-awayportion 36 of the wedge-shaped member I 4 and the front vertical surface35 of the lower rear body member. A dependent U-shaped member 45 issecured by means of screws 46 to the lower surface of the wedge-shapedmember l4 (see Fig. 4) and carries at its lower end a forwardlyprojecting screw 41. Screw 41 co-operates with a step 48 on the lowerrear bod member and serves to limit the maximum forward displacement ofthe wedge-shaped member and thus prevent enlargement of the groove tosuch an extent as to permit wobbling of the front body member.

The plane of the present invention permits the lead-in and lead-out of acut to be more easily controlled. When approaching the edge of a pieceof material in starting a cut in the fiat work contacting surface of thefront body member is kept in contact with the top surface of thematerial to be cut. During the cut the work contacting surface of thefront body member is kept in contact with the uncut surface of thematerial and the work contacting surface of the rear body member is keptin contact with the cut surface of the material. At the-end of the cutthe work contacting surface of the rear body member is kept in contactwith the cut surface of the material. A flat plane surface can readilybe obtained.

I claim:

1. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a fiat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, means for adjusting said lower rear andfront body members relatively to one another in an upward and downwarddirection to form a step between the flat bottoms thereof, a blade whoselower end lies between the adjacent ends of the flat bottoms of saidlower rear and front body members, said front body member having, oneach side at the rear end thereof, an upwardly extending inwardlyprojecting slide, the'lower rear body member having adjacent the forwardend thereof an upwardly extending and forwardly facing step at each sidethereof whilst the upper wedge shaped rear body member has, on each sidethereof, an upwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that whensaid rear body members are assembled said steps of the lower and upperrear body members will face one another in longitudinally spacedrelationship to form a guide slot on each side of the combined rear bodymember adapted to receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of thefront body member.

2. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a fiat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, means for adjusting said lower rear andfront body members relatively to one another in an upward and downwarddirection to form a step between the flat bottoms thereof, a blade whoselower end lies between the adjacent ends of the flat bottoms of saidlower rear and front body members, said front body member having, oneach side at the rear end thereof, an upwardly extending inwardlyprojecting slide, the lower rear body member having adjacent the forwardend thereof an upwardly extending and forwardly facing step at each sidethereof whilst the upper wedge shaped rear body member has, on each sidethereof, an upwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that whensaid rear body members are assembled said steps of the lower and upperrear body members will face one another in longitudinally spacedrelationship to form a guide slot on each side of the combined rear bodymember adapted to receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of thefront body member and to maintain said fiat bottoms of said front andlower rear body members substantially parallel with one another at allpositions of adjustment.

3. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a flat bottomed rearbody member, a flat bottomed front body member, a blade whose lower endlies between the adjacent ends of flat bottoms of said body members,said front body member having on each side at the rear end thereof anupwardly extending inwardly pro- .iecting slide, said rear body memberhaving on each side thereof adjacent the forward end thereof an upwardlyinwardly extending guide slot to receive the upwardly inwardlyprojecting slide of the front body member, a shaft rotatably mountedtransversely of and in said rear body member, eccentric members disposedat opposite ends of said shaft, slots formed in said slides to receivesaid eccentric members and means to angularly displace said eccentriccarrying shaft to adjust said body members relatively to one another inan upward and downward direction to form a step between the flat bottomsthereof.

4. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a fiat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, a blade whose lower end lies between theadjacent ends of the flat bottoms of said lower rear and front bodymembers, said upper wedge-shaped member having,

on each side at the rear end thereof,'an upwardly extending inwardlyprojecting slide, the lower rear body member having adjacent the forwardend thereof an upwardly extending and forwardly facing step at each sidethereof whilst the upper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each sidethereof, an upwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that whensaid rear body members are assembled said steps of the lower and upperrear body members will face one another in longitudinally spacedrelationship to form a guide slot on each side-of the combined rear bodymember adapted to receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of thefront body member, a shaft rotatably mounted in said wedgeshaped rearbody member, eccentrics at opposite ends of said shaft, slots formed insaid inwardly projectingslides to receive said eccentric members, andmeans to angularly displace said eccentric carrying shaft to adjust saidlower rear and front body members relatively to one an- 7 other in anupward and downward direction to form a step between the flat bottomsthereof.

5. vIn a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a flat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a fiatbottomed front body member, a blade whose lower end lies between theadjacent ends of the flat bottoms of said lower rear and front bodymembers, said upper wedge-shaped member having, on each side at the rearend thereof, an upwardly extending inwardly projecting slide, the lowerrear body member having adjacent the forward end thereof an upwardlyextending and forwardly facing step at each side thereof whilst theupper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each side thereof, anupwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that when said rearbody members are assembled said steps of the lower and upper rear bodymembers will face one another in longitudinally spaced relationship toform a guide slot on each side of the combined rear body member adaptedto receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of the front bodymember and to maintain said flat bottoms of said front and lower rearbody members substantially parallel with one another, a shaft rotatablymounted in said wedge-shaped rear body member, eccentrics at oppositeends of said shaft, slots in said inwardly projecting slides to receivesaid eccentrics, and means to angularly displace said eccentric carryingshaft to adjust said lower rear and front body members relatively to oneanother in an upward and downward direction to form a step between theflat bottoms thereof.

6. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a flat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a fiatbottomed front body member, means for adjusting said lower rear andfront body members relatively to one another in an upward and downwarddirection to form a step between the fiat bottoms thereof, a blade whoselower end lies between the adjacent ends of the fiat bottoms of saidlower rear and front body members, said upper wedge-shaped memberhaving, on each side at the rear end thereof, an upwardly extendinginwardly projecting slide, the lower rear body member having adjacentthe forward end thereof an upwardly extending and forwardly facing stepat each side thereof whilst the upper wedgeshaped rear body member has,on each side thereof, an upwardly extending and rearwardly facing stepsuch that when said rear body members are assembled said steps of thelower and upper rear body members will face one another in longitudi- 6nally spaced relationship to form a guide slot on each side of thecombinedrearbody member adapted to receive the upwardly inwardlyprojecting slide of the front body member, and means for adjusting saidupper wedge-shaped rear body member longitudinally relative to said flatbottomed lower rear body member to increase or decrease the width ofsaid grooves.

7. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a fiat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, a blade whose lower end lies between theadjacent ends of the fiat bottoms of said lower rear and front bodymembers, said upper wedge-shaped member having, on each side at the rearend thereof, an upwardly extending inwardly projecting slide, the lowerrear body member having adjacent the forward end thereof an upwardlyextending and forwardly facing step at each side thereof whilst theupper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each side thereof, anupwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that when said rearbody members are assembled said steps of the lower and upper rear bodymembers will face one 'another in longitudinally spaced relationship toform a guide slot on each side of the combined rear body member adaptedto receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of the front'bodymember, a transverse bore in said wedge-shaped rear body member, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bore, eccentrics at opposite ends of saidshaft, slots formed in said inwardly projecting slides to receive saideccentrics, and means to angularly displace said eccentric carryingshaft to adjust said lower rear and front body members relatively to oneanother in an upward and downward direction to form a step between theflat bottoms thereof, and means for locking said eccentric carryingshaft in any desired position.

8. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a fiat bottomed lowerrear body member, 'an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, a blade whose lower end lies between theadjacent ends'of the flat bottoms of said lower rear and front bodymembers, said upper wedge-shaped member having, on each side at the rearend thereof, an ,upwardly extending inwardly projecting slide, the lowerrear body member having adjacent the forward end thereof an upwardlyextending and forwardly facing step at each side thereof whilst theupper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each side thereof, anupwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that when said rearbody members are assembled said steps of the lower and upper rear bodymembers will face one another in longitudinally spaced relationship toform a guide slot on each side of the combined rear body member adaptedto receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of the front bodymember, a transverse bore in said wedge-shaped rear body member, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bore, eccentrics at opposite ends of saidshaft, slots formed in said inwardly projecting slides to receive saideccentrics, a rearwardly extending lever, a transverse bore through saideccentric carrying shaft to receive said rearwardly extending lever inthreaded engagement therewith, means to angularly' displace saideccentric carrying shaft to adjust said lower rear and front bodymembers relatively to one another in an upward and downward direction toform a step between the fiat bottoms thereof, and means to bring the endof said lever into or out of frictional engagement with the eccentriccarrying shaft receiving bore to lock said shaft in any position ofangular adjustment.

9. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a flat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a flatbottomed front body member, a blade whose lower end lies between theadjacent ends of the flat bottoms of said lower rear and front bodymembers, said upper wedge-shaped member having, on each side at the rearend thereof, an upwardly extending inwardly projecting slide, the lowerrear body member having adjacent the forward end thereof an upwardlyextending and forwardly facing step at each side thereof whilst theupper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each side thereof, anupwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that when said rearbody members are assembled said steps of the lower and upper rear bodymembers will face one another in longitudinally spaced relationship toform a guide slot on each side of the combined rear body member adaptedto receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of the front bodymember, a transverse bore in said wedgeshaped rear body member, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bore, eccentrics at opposite ends of saidshaft, slots formed in said inwardly projecting slides to receive saideccentrics, means to angularly displace saideccentric carrying shaft toadjust said lower rear and front body members relatively to one anotherin an upward and downward direction to form a step between the fiatbottoms thereof, means for locking said eccentric carrying shaft in anydesired position, and a scale member upstanding from said lower rearbody member to give visual indication of the distance between said flatbottoms of said front and rear body members at the blade.

10. In a hand plane for shaping wood and the like a flat bottomed lowerrear body member, an upper wedge-shaped rear body member, a fiatbottomed front body member, a forwardly and downwardly inclined bladewhose lower end lies between the adjacent ends of the flat bottoms ofsaid lower rear and front body members, means to retain said blade onsaid upper wedge-shaped 8 rear body member, means to adjust said bladein an upward and downward direction relative to said upper wedge-shapedrear body member, means to adjust said blade laterally of said upperwedge-shaped rear body member, said upper wedge-shaped member having, oneach side at' the rear end thereof, an upwardly extending inwardlyprojecting slide, the lower rear body member having adjacent the forwardend thereof an upwardly extending and forwardly facing step at each sidethereof whilst the upper wedge-shaped rear body member has, on each sidethereof, an

upwardly extending and rearwardly facing step such that when said rearbody members are assembled said steps of the lower and upper rear bodymembers will face one another in longitudinally spaced relationship toform a guide slot on each side of the combined rear body member adaptedto receive the upwardly inwardly projecting slide of the front bodymember, a transverse bore in said wedge-shaped rear body member, a shaftrotatably mounted in said bore, eccentrics at opposite ends of saidshaft, slots formed in said inwardly projecting slides to receive saideccentrics, a rearwardly extending lever, a transverse bore through saideccentric carrying shaft to receive said rearwardly extending lever inthreaded engagement therewith, means to angularly' displace saideccentric carrying shaft to adjust said lower rear and front bodymembers relatively to one another in an upward and downward direction toform a step between the fiat bottoms thereof, and means to bring the endof said lever into or out of frictional engagement with the eccentriccarrying shaft receiving bore to lock said shaft in any position ofangular adjustment.

WALTER NOEL POWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 819,888 Jones May 8, 19061,192,849 Bridges Aug. 1, 1916

